Throughout downtown and even in more residential areas, Charleston residents have seen an increase in roach sightings.
As the summer temperatures rise, roaches have been seen rising out of their colonies hotspots. This is because cockroaches are cold-blooded arthropods that despise cold weather. Roaches are practically built to live in hot and humid places, making Charleston a prime location for their environment.
How to Identify a Roach
It can be exceptionally hard to identify a roach. This is because roaches spend about 75% of their time hiding away in their "nests." When their nests grow large enough, they become more brave and wander out of the colony. The most common roaches in Charleston, South Carolina are between 1/2 to 2 1/8 inches in length, with oval shaped bodies. They have six legs and some roaches can even fly. People often mistake them with beetles or waterbugs, but roaches have flat bodies and most of them are reddish brown in color.
Most Common Roaches in Charleston, South Carolina
German cockroach: A single German cockroach can turn into three hundred thousand in just one year. With their astonishing ability to breed faster than almost every cockroach in the world, they are also incredibly sneaky. Most people don’t even know they have an infestation until it is too late. German cockroaches are known to infest kitchen appliances and rarely come out until their colony has grown tremendously. German cockroaches range in size from ½ inch to ⅝ of an inch long. They are light brown and tan in color, with two very recognizable stripes down their back.
American cockroach: American cockroaches also breed extremely fast. They primarily live outdoors, but it is not uncommon to find them inside a house. They are the most common cockroaches to infest sewers and drains, which can lead the curious species into your house. They are typically reddish-brown and adults are usually large in size. They range from 1 ¼ to 2 ⅛ inches long. It has figure eight or circular markings on its thorax.
Oriental cockroach: The Oriental cockroach is often referred to as a waterbug because they like to congregate in damp areas. They range in color from shiny black to dark reddish-brown. Oriental cockroaches will grow to around 1 inch in size, but depending on the gender, they will vary in size.
Brown-Banded cockroach: The Brown-Banded cockroach is often mistaken for the German cockroach because they share a similar body size and color/markings. They are generally ½ inch in size, brown, and have two horizontal “bands” across their bodies.
Should I Call a Professional or Take Care of It Myself
When it comes to roaches, we recommend that you at least get a free inspection to see what you're dealing with. Some of the roaches that call Charleston their home, are very devastating when it comes to damages. German cockroaches for instance can breed from one roach, to three hundred thousand in just one year. At Kopex Pest Control, we have routinely and discretely taken care of roach problems of all size. We have the proper knowledge and tools to help you fight back. Call Kopex Pest Control today for a free inspection!